During the mid 1800's, several movements for a more independent Ireland sprang up. The most significant of these grass roots efforts was the so-called "Home Rule" initiative. The movement started in 1870 with it's primary objective being that of the creation of a separate Irish Parliament to govern domestic affairs. The topic became a hot bed of political debate for next forty years with the Protestants wanting to keep their alliance with Britain, and vowing to violently resist any initiative that would separate Ireland from Mother England. Home Rule was eventually passed in the British House of Commons in 1914, but World War I prevented its enactment.
In 1916, Irish Nationalists stormed key buildings in Dublin during Easter Week, as it would latter come to be known as the "Easter Rising" was a significant step in the establishment an Irish Republic. In 1920, Ireland was officially split into northern and southern regions after the signing of the "Government of Ireland Act" predicated by a y battle between Britain and the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This new legislation gave control of the southern region of the country to the Irish, with the British still maintaining control over the northern region. While it appeared that a compromise had finally been made, the IRA waged violent underground campaigns to press for an independent Ireland that would be totally free to govern itself. .
The beginning of "The Troubles", as it came to be known, started in 1968 after riots broke out between Protestants and Catholics. The riots were prompted after the police ed down on Catholic marches to protest the discriminatory practices of those in power of the northern region of the country. The riots of this period were constant, violent and were ultimately the catalyst that would spiral Northern Ireland into years of continued civil unrest. It was during this period that we had the unfortunate event called, "Bloody Sunday", where British paratroopers opened fire on a group of Catholic protestors fourteen people.
